A Long Time Coming!!! From Texas????

Wow!!! When I got on here to see how long it had been, I had no idea it was 3 months ago! Time Flies!!

Have lots of new info to give you and to update you on!!!

First and most importantly, we have a new address and phone #. Yes, I am sitting in College Station, Texas writing this and we have been here 1 week! To some of you this may come as a surprise, but others of you know.

When Darrin was laid off in September, he sent out resumes everywhere! As there weren't any animating jobs in Lincoln, he found a job in October with the company he had been with before we went to Tennessee. He went back to teaching and doing web design, but that isn't animating! The pay was low and there weren't any benefits, but somehow we were making ends meet, barely. He didn't hear anything for many months, but then out of the blue he kept getting called in March with possibilities in Orlando, Austin and then at Texas A&M. Darrin flew down over Memorial weekend and several weeks later was officially offered the job. With only 2 weeks to pack and get ready, we weren't able to come down and find a place, so we set off with our stuff in an U-Haul and knowing that God would find a place when we arrived.

God has been in the middle of this adventure from the get go and His timing is perfect! We left Lincoln on July the 3rd late in the day. We literally went around the corner from our house and the trailer that Darrin was pulling in the truck had a flat tire! We waited for an hour for someone to come and fix it and then started out again around 3:00. It was slow going as the truck would sway back and forth frightening so! We were going 45-5o mph! 94 miles later somewhere in Kansas, we had another flat, this time on the truck itself. We were on the side of a 2 lane highway with nothing around!!! After 2 1/2 hours of waiting, someone came and another 1/2 hour later we were on our way again. BUT we had Darrin's truck which was on the trailer too heavy, so we had to unload the back of the Dakota and leave some of our things along side the road.

I reminded Dakota that we were like the pioneers who had to leave their things along the Oregon trail and that everything we were leaving was replaceable! So after lightening the load, Darrin was able to handle the truck a whole lot better and we were able to go faster! Darrin said that the 2nd flat was a blessing so the way was easier. Due to the delay, we didn't arrive in College Station as we had hoped and our 1 day to find a place to live turned into 4 hours. Needless to say, we didn't find a place on Wednesday, but learned where we did and didn't want to live, which is important!

Darrin had to be to work on Thursday, so the boys and I set out to find a place and then again on Friday. Dakota and I knew that God had a place for us on Friday and we both said that by 5:00 that night we would have a place, and just like God sometimes does, almost last minute, by 4:00 we had signed a lease to a duplex that we were able to get into for under$1500 including deposits and all! Another answer to prayer!!!

So we are settling in and getting familiar with our new town and the new level of humidity that is here!:) We are anxious to see what God has planned for us in Texas as I wouldn't ever have dreamed that I would be living in "God's Country" in my life!!:)

Darrin is getting into a pattern at work, having 1 week under his belt and I wish I could tell you more about what he is doing, but I'm pretty clueless! He is animating for TEEX which is a part of Texas A&M. Hopefully I will be able to tell you all more at a later date!

To update you since Kru's surgery, he is doing fine! April was busy with Kye's 4th birthday and a week long visit from Aunt Shel-Shel and Uncle Kory. We all had a blast!!!May was busy with school and soccer winding down and getting ready for VBS. June was a blur!!!:) We had 1 week of Summer vacation before VBS, which was a ton of fun again this year and then we packed and packed and packed! We didn't forget about Kru's 1st birthday however, and my dad was able to come for a week to celebrate his youngest grandson's big day! We took some pictures of the boys and I will add many more later, but for now these will have to do! Check back soon for more photos!

If you want to come visit us or write here is our new info!!!

3704 Oldenburg Ln

College Station, TX 77845

979-450-8228

same emails karis@alienant.com

darrin@alienant.com

dakota@alienant.com

Miss you all and hope all is well with you and yours!

Love Kari

Kru Has Surgery!

Hello All!

I have been wanting to update for a LONG time, but just when I would get around to doing it, well you know how things go. Then at Kru's 9 month check, the doctor found a growth. Yes, it completely freaked me out, so we went in for an ultrasound on the 27th and they diagnosed it as a hydraseal/hernia. So I was going to update everyone and let you know that we were looking at surgery by the end of the month, but you know us Stephens! We can't do anything slow!!

Monday night I had noticed that this mass had moved down into Kru's scrotum. It bothered me and it started to look a bit discolored. To make a long story short, by the time we got in to see the doctor on Tuesday afternoon, she sent us directly to the ER. We were admitted around 5:00 Tuesday night and Kru had surgery around 6:45. He did great! He was out by 8:00 and met us up in the peds wing with drousy smiles.

They said that he was their best peds patient and woke up with smiles and no crying. The doctor said that he had a non-communicating hydraseal and a minor hernia. He has a 1-1 & 1/2 incision and seems to be doing fine. We spent the night and were home by 1:30 Wednesday afternoon.

As you can see by the pictures, a few hours later, he was crawling around and pulling up on things like nothing had even happened! Man, kids are resiliant!

So...that is the most recent excitement in our lives! Other news since last time! Darrin continues to look for a job after being laid off in October. He went back to TechEd Solutions, where he was before we took the job in TN, and enjoys working there, it's just that there are NO benefits and the pay is low! We are hoping that we get to stay in Lincoln, but our track record isn't very good when things like this have happened before!

Dakota and Kye have been keeping busy with school and Dakota is hoping that he eventually gets to play soccer, his games keep getting snowed and rained out. He hasn't had a game yet this season. We are hoping tomorrow night, but it is pouring right now and the forecast isn't promising!

I am busy at work with Easter fast approaching and then of course it will be on to VBS planning!!! Can't believe how fast the time goes!

Kye is already very excited about his birthday which is just around the corner! He wants to go to the zoo and have his friends come. He really hasn't had a real party, so we are hoping the weather will be good and we can do it here at the little children's zoo that he loves! Dakota has his school musical in a few weeks, so I will have many pictures to show you by May!

I hope that you all are doing well and that during this time of year, you are reminded of the wonderful Saviour who died, but ROSE!!!!

Love,

Kari

Kru Gets a Duck!!!

Hello All!

Not too much new around here! Boring winter you know!

I wanted to put these pictures up of Kru's new bathtub which he loves!!! We just got it for him as he is now sitting up pretty much on his own. He has also transitioned into the next carseat and is no longer portable via the carseat! Bad on the back, but he can now sit in the grocery cart!:)

Kye is thoroughly enjoying his "farm school" as he likes to refer to it. After learning about beavers in January, they are on to SCAT. Yes, when picking him up last week he told me, "Mom, we had bunny poop for snack!" I was a bit confused and then he told me that "Poop is scat." So what was the bunny scat snack? Cocoa Puffs. I guess they are about the same size and all! At least they're being scientific about it. They are learning how we can tell things from animal scat and how everyone and everything poops! He LOVES it! Even on cold days, he loves going on their hikes and seeing sticks, animals and poop!:)

Dakota is getting ready for soccer season to begin. We thought that he would get to play some indoor before the other starts, but just was informed there wasn't enough interest so they cancelled it. Oh well! He continues to do very well. I'll find out more today at his conferences, but I expect to hear good things!

Hope you enjoy the pictures! Will write soon!

-Kari

Happy New Year!!!

Happy 2006! I can't believe that it is already the middle of the month! Where does the time go?

We enjoyed hearing from so many of you and loved all the pictures that you sent! I know that is my favorite thing about Christmas cards...or New Year's cards...or even Valentines Day cards.:) Every year I put all the pictures into an album and it is so cool to see how everyone changes from year to year!

So have you recovered from the holidays? I think we just now are finally getting back into the groove and Dakota has Monday and Tuesday off this week, so not really normal yet!

December was busy as it always is. Dakota did very well in his performance at our churches Christmas Pageant. He was 1 of 3 shepherds and I do have to say that they stole the show!! Their trio was excellent and talking in cowboy accents was so funny! I hope to have a video of it soon and maybe I'll be able to put up just a little so you could hear his accent. Someone told me he sounded like a Norweigian cowboy??? I have no idea where he came up with his accent, we were just happy that he attempted to play the role he was supposed too!!

Pappy and Grandma came to visit for about 20 hours the weekend before Christmas. It was a quick trip, but the kids were excited to see them and P & G enjoyed watching the boys open up their gifts. Christmas was huge this year and as always the boys got too much, but I supposed it's only once a year and they are little only for a while. Kye got everything that he asked Santa for and is still enjoying the animals and such that he received for Christmas. For Dakota, Star Wars was a huge thing with his gifts and of course video games. Kru was more interested in eating the paper than what was inside, so next year may be a little more exciting for him!!

We had a fun New Year's party this year and the kids had their own toast and hoorah around 9:30. I made Margaritas for the kids and they rang in the new year with a bang!

These past couple of weeks Kru has had an ear infection, his first! And I think that he is teething, still none showing, but he is sure biting everything that he can get his hands on. We went for his 6 month check and he was in the 43% in weight and the 82% for height! It looks like he too is going to take after Darrin. He is trying to sit on his own and everyday gets a bit better, but still not without pillows to cushion his fall. He loves sweet potatoes and biter biscuits. We just let him have one of those this past week! He started shaking he was so excited! He's growing up so fast and getting so big. I can't believe that he's almost 7 months already!!

Dakota wasn't too excited to go back to school but he is surviving! He continues to do very well. Dakota was named Champion of his football fantasy league! See pictures below! He wound up beating his uncle, aunt and dad! Way to go! I think the rest of the 12 person league were surprised that a 9 year old won! He was way stoked when in the mail he received a t-shirt with his logo and champion printed and then a few days later a trophy! I'm not sure if uncle, aunt and dad will let him play in their league next year or not!:) Soccer season begins shortly and flag football too, so I'm trying to enjoy the last few weeks before the madness and taxiing begins!!

Kye started a new pre-school this past week. He goes Tuesdays & Thursdays and it is sooooo much better than where we were before! This is out at the Pioneer Park Nature Center. He loves animals and being outside and this is a perfect fit!!! They take a hike everyday and learn about animals and nature everyday! No problems at all and he is loving it! Other than that and Bible Study and getting together with friends, Kye, Kru and I hang around the house!

Hope your new year is going well and that your household stays healthy! I'll update in February! Would love to hear from you! Email me - kariastephens@hotmail.com
-Kari

Finally, A New Post!

Hello All!

Yes, I know it has been awhile!!! Where does the time go? I figured I better update as my Christmas cards will be going out soon and this has more pictures than I will be sending to you all!

October wrapped up with Dakota's 9th Birthday party. We had a few of his buddies over and went and played Laser Tag and had pizza and cake. I made his cake this year, per his request, as last year's wasn't so tasty. So Star Wars battlefield was the theme and he loved it! We celebrated Halloween 3 times this year! Yikes! Between Boo at the Zoo, our church Halloween party and then trick or treating on Halloween night, we still have candy!!

November went fairly quickly! Not too much other than the usual activities, but time seems to fly! We went over to Iowa for Thanksgiving this year and saw a ton of family. It was great! I love my big family! Kru did fairly well in the carseat. It was the longest he has gone in a seat, but PaPa was driving, so I took him out to feed him and amuse him!

I can't believe that it is December already and that Kru is almost 6 months old! Bizarre! We are having snow today again and it is bitter cold! Looking forward to the upcoming holiday events! Dakota will be in our church Christmas Pageant on the 18th, Darrin's and my 11th anniversary! And we're looking forward to a quick visit from Grandma and Pappy next week. We are staying in town for Christmas and looking forward to no driving with 3 children! We will have some friends visiting from out of state, Stacy and Chris Schottel with their boys, which will be nice!

During this Advent season, I just find new amazement at the wonder of it all, that Jesus came to bring us life! May you continue to remember the real reason that we celebrate Christmas this time of year! Be looking in your mailboxes for our card!

Email or call us, we would love to hear from you this season! Until the New Year!
God Bless!
Love to you all!
-Kari

October Already!?!

Hey All!

I can't believe that it is almost the middle of October! Where do the days go? I figured I had better add a new post and a few pictures before the craziness begins starting with Dakota's birthday and not finishing until after the holidays!!!

Things around here continue to be busy and hectic, but such is life, right? I know I think things will slow down when such and such happens, but there seems to always be another such and such to replace the last ones!!!

We have taken Kye out of his little pre-school. Things weren't going so well and he wasn't liking the teacher and throwing fits and all in class. I was a bit frustrated because he liked his other school so well last year, so trying to decide what to do. He goes to Bible Study with me on Tuesdays and loves it, so I guess maybe this other school was too structured for him. I figured he is only 3 and we don't need to have that stress in his life yet! So we are hanging out more around the house.

Dakota has just finished soccer and is well into flag football. He is going to be playing indoor soccer soon and is considering playing basketball for the first time. I think dad has had some influence on that one! We'll see what he decides to do. He also mentions karate, and I've told him he is going to have to choose between a few of these things!!! He was nominated for student council this year. I am very proud!!! I hope that he will enjoy a leadership role and that that may influence his direction in the future.

Kru is going to be my thumb-sucker. I tried so hard with the other boys to redirect and it worked, but little Kru man is not going for that. He will find his thumb and often spit the bink out to take his thumb. It's very cute as you can see in the picture, but it freaks me out! You can't throw away a thumb like you can a bink. He continues to grow and be a good baby. He weighs almost 15 pounds now. We go in Monday for his 4 month shots and check. I hate those shots!

I love this wonderful fall weather that we finally got last week. I was so tired of the 90 degree days in October! Crazy! But we are now into fall and we have bought our pumpkins, (pinecones, as Kye calls them) we are ready. Dakota can barely wait for his birthday and is counting down the days! I look forward to hearing about your adventures! I hope that this beautiful season that we are beginning will continue to remind you of the wonderful Creator and Savior that is displaying His love for us all!

-Kari

Fall is Here!?!

Hey Everyone!

Even though it is September, it is still warm here. Today is a nice Indian Summer day where there is no humidity and a nice breeze along with the warm sunshine! Yesterday though was 90 and hot! Can't wait for true fall!!!

Dakota started school 3 weeks ago and Kye did just last week. They both enjoy school and Dakota has been placed in the high math class. He is in a man's classroom this year and is liking having a guy teacher. Things are crazy busy with him, but he seems be handling it better than I am!! He has school, soccer, & flag football. With 2 games a week and 2 practices a week, we are busy!! But he enjoys both sports and just last week at the soccer game scored twice! Monday night was his first game for football and he made a touchdown too! He runs fast!!

Kye goes to preschool 3 times a week just in the mornings! He loves it and is so excited on those mornings to put on his backpack and go have fun with his new friends! He came home singing Jesus Loves is Bubblin' Over on Monday which made my heart feel glad! Kye is in swimming lessons and is doing very well. He continues to enjoy being under the water more than above, but I guess that's a good thing. I started teaching AquaBabies again, but haven't tried Kru yet as I think the water temp is too cool for him.

Kru had his 2 month check 2 weeks ago. I hate shots!!! You feel so bad for them, just out of the blue somethin' hurts them!! He weighed 13 lbs and was 24 in long. He is in the 83% in height and 70 something% in weight and head! He continues to smile a lot and has started laughing. It is amazing how alert he is becoming. What a cutie! I finally mailed the baby announcements that most of you should be getting soon! And his 2 month old pics I will put up with the other pictures today!

Darrin continues to be busy with work and occasional freelance jobs, and I have been very busy at church with the fall semester just getting underway last week. It is so much fun and very rewarding though I am tired! But God is going to be my strength! I love my job!

We had a great time at the fair again this year. We actually went after Dakota's first day of school! We rode the rides, saw a few animals, ate yummy food and had a great time. We went back on Wednesday to see the Newsboys for a free concert and it was excellant! I had pre-warned and pre-warned the boys that we wouldn't be riding the rides again, but we did play a few games and won some stuffed animals. What fun! What fun!

In case you have forgotten, we have moved and here is our address: 7021 S 32nd still Lincoln:) 68516 same phone!

Talk again soon!
Kari